CAPERS defeat Sea-Hawks in AUS men’s soccer action
By Corey LeBlanc
SYDNEY – After exploding for five unanswered goals in the first half, the Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS (5-0-2) cruised to a convincing 7-1 victory over the Memorial Sea-Hawks (3-3-1) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's soccer action on Friday evening at Ness Timmons Soccer Field.
In the opening minute, off a free kick from team captain Max Piepgrass (Calgary, AB), striker Owen Sheppard (St. John's, NL) put a shot behind Memorial keeper Louis-Charles Valliancourt (Sherbrooke, QC) to make it 1-0.
By the third minute, the CAPERS doubled their edge, with Cameron Kilbride (Blackpool, ENG) depositing a rebound off a scoring chance by Evan Cunningham (Lancashire, ENG).
In the 21st minute, Piepgrass ripped a free kick into the top corner behind Valliancourt to give the home side a 3-0 advantage.
After Cunningham weaved his way through a trio of defenders, the ball ended up on the toe of Harvey Hughes (Southampton, Hampshire), who made no mistake and made it a four-goal margin.
Joe Mac (Toronto, ON), on a sensational individual effort, blasted a strike in the bottom corner after his initial shot was blocked by the Memorial defense.
The CAPERS headed to the locker room with a 5-0 edge.
In the second half, with both sides having gone to their benches, Luke Peddle (St. John's, NL) – MUN's player of the game- headed home a free kick from Alex Nunes (St. John's, NL) to put the visitors on the scoreboard.
In the 62nd minute, off a Piepgrass free kick, Nikolai Scheurenbrand (Nebringen, DE) picked up the rebound from a Nickolas Shifrin (Netanya, Israel) strike and put it behind Memorial keeper Robert Hodge (St. Lawrence, NL) to make it 6-1.
Off a Shifrin free kick in the closing seconds, one turned aside by a diving Hodge, Jamie Nicholson (North Petherton, ENG) put the finishing touches on the lopsided win by depositing the rebound into the net on a nifty strike.
Piepgrass – CBU's Subway Player of the Game - and Hughes led a balanced CBU attack with two points apiece.
The CAPERS held a 13-3 edge in shots on goal for the match.
Both teams return to action Sunday, Sept. 29, when the CAPERS host the rival Saint Mary's Huskies, while the Sea-Hawks will face the STFX X-Men at STFX Stadium in Antigonish.
Game time for both match-ups is 3:15 p.m. ADT.
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